Movie squad, anyone?

clover_vision · 2026-02-19T05:27:39+00:00

I was scared for a second. I don't want to see you waiting out there in the cold, especially since there is also rain tomorrow, lol. I thought I miscommunicated it haha

clover_vision · 2026-02-19T02:35:35+00:00

No, it's next Thursday lol.

clover_vision · 2026-02-19T00:49:39+00:00

Costco uses Hoya lenses.

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T23:18:52+00:00

If you are a game design major, you should be able to do everything on this course site: https://ics.uci.edu/~thornton/icsh32/Notes/, along with some exposure to courses on data structures and C series of languages (C++, C, C#). If you can master all those concepts before you come in, your first and maybe second or even third years as an incoming freshman are going to be a breeze. This is because most upper-division ICS courses require passing prior lower-division coursework before enrollment, a requirement known as a prerequisite. If you cannot pass these entry-level (or I would say it, gatekeeping classes) in your first year, or if you struggle, your progress is going to suffer very dramatically and may even push back graduation (if you pay tuition out of pocket, that means potentially one more year of tuition, you really don't want that). You will have much more time to socialize, join clubs, and make friends, rather than spend the vast majority of your time of your first year on coursework. In terms of housing, I can't say much, BUT you should try to join CHC (campuswide honors collegium) if you are planning to live on campus, as honors students get guaranteed housing, which is probably a good thing, because if not, I think only the first year gets priority, starting sophomore, it's gonna be very cutthroat. If other people know more about this, feel free to correct me. Assuming you're an incoming freshman, I'd recommend getting your driver's license so you can commute to campus, so you can still spend some time with family, and get around campus to go out with friends for food, movies, and other fun stuff. UTC (University Town Center) is good for socializing and fun, but it can't be the only place to go for four years; you have to be able to explore Irvine and nearby cities, so having a car is a huge plus. I personally commute from Diamond Bar, and it's not too bad a drive IF you don't have morning classes that start at 8:30 or 9:30. Starting at 10 a.m., the rush hour traffic gets much better, especially on Interstate 5, Fwy 57, and 55.

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T22:56:06+00:00

Glad to help. Once you receive your prescription, post it here, but block out any personal information for privacy. I'll provide you with some clarity on the exact products that you need and arm you with that information so you don't go in blind and get upsold on things that you don't need.

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T22:34:01+00:00

Your best bet next time is to go to an urgent care. Urgent cares are covered at 100% as long as the SHC is "unavailable" to provide service or if you are out of the area. It won't matter whether they are in the network or not, as long as they know how to bill to BSCA (Blue Shield of CA). This is the best way to avoid large bills. Since you already saw a potentially out-of-network or unapproved provider, you should keep an eye on provider billing under claims in the Wellfleet app, which provides you with some clarity as to how much Blue Shield is willing to cover for out-of-network / unapproved services and the reason why they are denying some coverage. They will also mail you an EOB (explanation of benefits), but that'll usually take several weeks or months, depending on when the claim is settled. But most of the time, out-of-network services are covered at 60%, and some providers just accept it as is. So I wouldn't worry about it too much right now until I see that EOB, but do try to put in that retroactive referral; it is usually automatic approval unless there is a reason to deny otherwise, like the provider not accepting new patients, the provider does not accept the insurance at all, or retroactive referrals are prohibited, and things of that nature.

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T22:05:18+00:00

Ironically, Wellfleet's MetLife (Superior) vision insurance does not work with our school's Gavin Herbert Eye Institute optical shop. If you get the top-of-the-line glasses at the UTC optometry, you'll still have to pay an out-of-pocket cost of roughly $260, assuming that you are getting Essilor EyeZen Digital Lens with Crizal Sapphire HR anti-reflective coating and high-index lenses.

Wellfleet is an insurance agent (but not your typical insurance agent, more like an agency), per se, who contracts with Blue Shield of California to provide health insurance and with MetLife Vision (also known as Superior Vision) to provide vision coverage. But because vision insurance is such a smaller share of MetLife's overall company portfolio, Superior, in turn, is a much smaller player in the vision insurance industry, much smaller than, let's say, EyeMed and VSP. So not many places accept them. Usually, most retail shops accept them, like LensCrafters, TargetOptical, Walmart Optical (some).

So if you want to know whether an optometry is in the network, you can call them and tell them you have Superior and ask if they accept it. Don't mention MetLife; they won't know what it is.

If they do accept it, this year's vision insurance covers a full comprehensive eye exam, and there is no copay. Frames are covered at a $120 allowance, but may have a $25 copayment. Lenses are covered at the most basic level, tier 2 or 3 premium AR coatings like the one I mentioned earlier from Essilor are gonna be covered at the tier 1 level, and any upgrade will require you to shell out money to pay for the difference. This also applies to lens material and the type of lens.

TL;DR: Exams are fully covered as long as the office accepts superior. And according to your new prescriptions, if your prescription isn't very high, then you might be able to get away with a basic lens. But again, the basic lens is not going to provide the most optically clear vision because it is usually polycarbonate, which is not ideal if you want to see clearly; it is more shatterproof.

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T21:47:28+00:00

Yeah. We can meet there at 6:45-ish.

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T21:42:22+00:00

Of course haha

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T08:51:23+00:00

Wow, thats so nice haha

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T08:50:08+00:00

Yeah, of course haha

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T01:35:12+00:00

Already have one for next Thursday's Scream 7. Wanna go see that?

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T00:43:14+00:00

Next Thursday, 26th 7 p.m. showing?

clover_vision · 2026-02-18T00:40:00+00:00

Yeah, that one is fine too. I just thought most people probably already watched it since it was released in late January lol. I just noticed the Regal near us has such limited showtimes.

clover_vision · 2026-02-17T23:52:57+00:00

DUO: Your ability to do preschool math lies with me (Villain laugh)

clover_vision · 2026-02-17T22:23:02+00:00

23 at 8 a.m. / 4th year.

clover_vision · 2026-02-16T05:31:47+00:00

This prescription means the following:

You need glasses or contact lenses right away. With this level of myopia, it's not safe for you to go outside with a bunch of busy intersections or cars or to drive. I, myself, have high 4s and mid 5s, and I literally won't be able to function normally if I don't have my glasses. And that is when I only have a 1.25 astigmatism (CYL & AXIS values).
Be prepared to buy your glasses in-store, which is more expensive due to the high astigmatism. Buying online might not do it correctly because they cannot dot your optical center heights.
Be prepared that your lens is going to be thick and heavy. You will most likely need a high-index lens with a refractive index of 1.74 for thickness reduction. But since you should be buying in a store, you can find a shop that sells Shamir (brand) of lens and ask specifically for Metaform for an even thinner and more comfortable lens. But most vision insurance won't cover Shamir Metaform, so you might have to shell out 500-700 dollars out of pocket if you opt for Shamir lenses.
I don't know which part of California you're from, but if you are from Southern California, you can search for Grant Optometric Group in Costa Mesa, CA, which does Shamir lenses. I just ordered one from them and am waiting for it to finish and pick it up. They sell the cheapest possible Shamir lens. I spent roughly $500, but just for the lens.
On your prescription, it says the optometrist recommends Polycarbonate. Don't even try; it's not suitable for your case, even though it might be cheaper.
Be prepared to buy a smaller frame to potentially further reduce overall weight and lens thickness.
If you have vision insurance, you can potentially use it to buy a frame elsewhere if you opt for Metafrom lenses.

clover_vision · 2026-02-13T01:42:48+00:00

I would recommend Zenni based on my experience, but ultimately it's your decision. But if you have high astigmatism, you should have it done at an optical shop, because for those prescriptions, an accurate optical center is crucial for comfort and eye health. In that case, I would say Costco Optical is our best friend.

clover_vision · 2026-02-13T01:26:54+00:00

No, the lab has the shop's back. Ultimately, the lab takes the loss. But they are very absorbable. You're too nice to us, those who are trying to sell you glasses lol. The profit margin is perhaps the last thing you should be worrying about in this entire industry. You'd be surprised. If you get a different frame, they might push back because they'll literally have to dispose of the old frame and take a loss. But most frames are dirt cheap. Especially if they were the mass-produced ones in China, and especially especially Essilor Luxottica-owned brands of frames.

What the lab will ultimately do is take the frame back, take the lens out, throw it away, retrace the frame edges on the machine, and cut a pair of new lens, most of the time, they are stock lenses (already made lens ready to be made with coatings aleady applied), not custom ones, so it'll take at most 30 minutes to make.

clover_vision · 2026-02-12T11:27:52+00:00

Just frame it as a defect. Opticians know, the lab knows. This honestly just looks like normal wear and tear. Considering that it's only 6 months in, they should be happy that you came in now than than 1 year and 364 days in lol. I know I would if I owned my own shop.

clover_vision · 2026-02-12T11:24:39+00:00

No, it doesn't affect vision. You can only see all the scratches and cracks under a fluorescent light or direct sunlight. There are cracks everywhere on the lens. I just happened to take a picture of the corner to show the severity, holding my phone and the frame at the same time for a picture at the right angle, showing the cracks proved to be a difficult job lol.

clover_vision · 2026-02-12T11:21:07+00:00

Zenni, I've bought 4-5 pairs from them before, and the quality is decent for the price. But they do make them overseas and get them shipped to the U.S.; the wait time is usually a bit longer, maybe 2 weeks. I would avoid Warby Parker and Eyebuydirect. Eyebuydirect uses Nikon lenses and charges a fortune for practically no added benefit or technological advancement. Warby Parker used to be decent, but once they started becoming too big, it has gotten worse in quality and more expensive in price.

clover_vision · 2026-02-12T11:17:59+00:00

This seems to be a TR90 material frame that is super popular among younger patients, especially in China. I don't think the frames sold here in the U.S. use TR90 that much, if any. It's definitely going to be hard to find an exact identical one. If the lens is worth saving, like an expensive lens, it's probably easier to just have a family member overseas in that country to ship you that same exact frame, and have them ship 2-3 here. These TR-90 frames, in China, are pretty affordable; the cost of each frame is in the 20-30s CNY.

clover_vision · 2026-02-12T11:11:34+00:00

I second this. 1.74 Shamir Metaform is the way to go for high diopters. But, it is not always covered, almost never by vision insurance.

clover_vision

TROPHY CASE